Youth dies after a day in de-addiction centre

Chandigarh, Aug 23 (IANS) A youth died under mysterious circumstances a day after he was admitted at a drug de-addiction centre near Punjab’s Mohali town, a police official said Saturday.Surinder Singh, 21, was suffering from alcoholism and he willingly took admission in a drug de-addiction centre that also claimed to treat alcoholics in Mohali, adjoining Chandigarh, the police said.

“Surinder Singh was admitted in the drug de-addiction centre `Sankalp’ in Balongi village near Mohali town Aug 21.

“He was brought dead to his house at around 2.30 a.m. Saturday by two men who immediately fled in a car. They said that Surinder had taken some wrong medicine,” said a police official.

The body has been sent for post mortem examination to the civil hospital in Mohali. The de-addiction centre’s owner and officials are absconding, the police official said.

Surinder Singh was the only male member in the family. He was planning to go abroad for better job prospects and had already applied for a visa, said a neighbour.

A person who had seen Surinder’s body said there were marks of beating on his body. His body had turned blue and there were marks of strangulation on his neck.

Surinder’s mother alleged the de-addiction centre’s officials were responsible for his death.

“Police did not come on time. They came late in the morning. They are still not doing anything to catch the accused people,” a neighbour said.

“We are taking this case very seriously and will take appropriate action, but only after we get the post mortem report. We do not know anything about this de-addiction centre and about the centre’s absconding officials,” said Varinder Pal Singh, superintendent of police, Mohali.